Forest and Stream is the official organ of the National Archery Association 
Protection for Fingers 
By G. L. Nichols. 
Not an archer of all those with whom I have 
discussed the subject will acknowledge that his 
loose is entirely satisfactory, and most of them 
also believe that there might be considerable im¬ 
provement on the glove or tips that they may be 
using. 
There is considerable difference of opinion as 
to what may constitute the best finger protection 
and yet afford the smoothest release. Some au¬ 
thorities believe that the bare fingers would give 
the best loose if the skin would stand the wear. 
On this point I cannot agree with them. I need 
a smoother, firmer surface than my finger ends 
to get as good a release as I wish to get. By 
some an old kid glove is recommended. That 
would furnish a little protection to the skin; but 
the surface is so yielding that hardly as smooth 
a loose can be accomplished as with the bare 
fingers. 
To get the best results, I like a surface that is 
smooth and firm, but at the same time not so 
thick as to entirely deaden the feeling of the bow 
string on the fingers, nor render them stiff or 
clumsy. Personally, I very decidedly prefer a 
glove rather than a set of tips. I like the general 
feeling of the glove better, as it seems to strength¬ 
en the hand. 
In order to prevent my fingers from becoming 
sore without using such very heavy facing on my 
gloves, I have experimented with several sub¬ 
stances, such as quill, celluloid, etc., beneath the 
leather facing; but have not found them at all 
agreeable or effective. 
Until last season my fingers have been so thick¬ 
ly calloused that the thickened places in the skin 
had not returned to normal condition at the end 
of the winter’s rest. This last season I have had 
no sore or calloused fingers and my scores have 
not fallen below my usual average. 
I have been using pieces of thin felt inside the 
glove fingers next to the skin. The pieces are 
only the length of the last joint and allow the 
fingers to bend freely. There is no need to se¬ 
cure them very strongly, as there is very little 
pulling strain on them. At the same time, the 
amount of direct pressure that is absorbed will 
wear out two or three pieces of felt in a season. 
The material is very thin, similar to that used for 
covering billiard tables. With this protection 
and a very thin facing of horse-hide, I have shot 
over 400 arrows in a day, using a forty-six pound 
bow, without getting my finger ends blistered or 
calloused. 
My method of pulling and loosing is somewhat 
different from most other archers. At the be¬ 
ginning of the pull the string is held near the 
base of the first joint; but as the string is pulled 
back the fingers are relaxed until they are nearly 
straight by the time the shaft is fully drawn. 
After that the final movement of letting go is 
very slight and almost unconscious. Of course, 
once in a while, this hair-trigger will go off a 
fraction of a second before I secure my exact 
point of aim. 
From this description of the manner of loose 
that I use, it will be seen that the right kind of a 
glove is more necessary than would be the case 
if I employed a more mechanical method of re¬ 
leasing. 
ARCHERY PROSPECTS FOR 1914. 
By James Duff. 
While old Sol is at present looking down upon 
us, with his rather cold and at times absolutely 
freezing smile, one is tempted to remind him of 
the archer’s condition of mind, in the lines: 
“Did you ever watch the doggies, at the sound of 
hunter’s gun, 
How eagerly he strains the leash, among the 
birds to run; 
If perchance you’ve missed the picture, and the 
longing that it brings, 
You know not how the archer feels, when chilly 
winter clings.” 
And yet despite the discomforts of a severe 
winter, with its anything but archery-like weather, 
news is already coming in from all over the coun¬ 
try from devotees of the sport, as to the prospects 
for 1914. 
That it is going to be a great year, there is lit¬ 
tle reason to doubt. The general rule in archery, 
at any rate, is that the older archers are the first 
to break into song. But here we are at this early 
period, just when every one is wondering if his 
supply of coals will outlast the winter, or if the 
plumber is simply a visitor or actually one of the 
family, we are hearing of many new clubs in the 
course of construction and preparation. 
Within a very short period we have been told 
of a sort of archery heat wave that is sweeping 
over the California coast, and still they come in 
from the same quarter. E. H. Weston, of 
Tropico, Cal., son of the grand old man of arch¬ 
ery, Dr. E. B. Weston, of Chicago, Ill., writes in 
an optimistic tone, not of the new club, but of 
clubs. From the other extreme comes in word 
of at least two new clubs, one in connection with 
a school, and the other with at least six mem¬ 
bers to start in with. Both are in Buffalo, N. Y. 
This news should be welcome to Mr. Young, of 
that city, who has been practicing alone for the 
last two years, and every archer will admit that 
no matter how pleasant a little private practice 
may be, it cannot compare to that of a competi¬ 
tive nature. 
Our old new friend E. I. Cole, of Ossining, 
N. Y., who is at present in Florida, will be de¬ 
lighted to hear that archery is to be a recognized 
sport there this year, as several new men have 
taken up the sport there with the intention of 
545 
being heard from. Nor is the North to remain 
out in the cold. In Ashland, Wis., Mr. Fenenza, 
on the recommendation of the gonial ex-president, 
Burton P. Gray, of Boston, took up the sport late 
last year, and although I fear little or no shoot¬ 
ing has been indulged in, owing to weather con¬ 
ditions, still in that quarter we have a club fully 
equipped for the spring and summer. 
T. J. Stewart, of Ames, Iowa, is at present in 
the throes of club organization at that center, and 
would be pleased to hear from archers as to the 
best means to adopt to start a club, in order to 
ensure continued success. Iowa archers will all 
rally round, I am sure, and assist Mr. Stewart to 
the best of their ability. 
From all over the United States are enquiries 
as to the prospects for archery in the near future, 
by people who do not know the first thing about 
the sport, so the N. A. A. may look for a great 
infusion of new blood into its ranks. And when we 
come to consider that the majority of those that 
have taken up the sport of archery during the 
past five or six years have almost immediately 
jumped into the front rank as shooters, we may 
be prepared again to see some name hitherto un¬ 
known step in and annex any event at the next 
National tournament at Philadelphia this summer. 
Who among us have heard as yet of Mr. Roadie, 
of Lake Forest, as an archer? Very few, I 
think. And yet here is one who will rank high 
indeed, if I mistake not. One who can achieve 
a score of 6-46 at forty yards as a beginner will 
not remain unknown. But then he has the ad¬ 
vantage of having Prof. Rendtorff as an instruct¬ 
or and coach, which speaks for itself. 
Beginners nowadays have the advantage over 
older shooters, inasmuch as they have at their 
command the written experiences of such stars 
as Bryant, Elmer, Hertig, Taylor and Rendtorff, 
so that no excuse is allowable for making a bad 
start in bad form. Little or nothing is kept up 
the sleeve for private use. Watch the pages of 
Forest and Stream throughout the year, and it 
will be strange if something does not meet the 
eye that fits your particular case. Archers are 
an unselfish lot, and it will be found that every 
man seems to be ready to teach you to beat him¬ 
self. The older clubs, while seemingly in a state 
of repose, are almost to a man in active prepara¬ 
tion for the season that is now almost upon us. 
News from Boston, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Wayne, 
and Jersey City, conveys the impression that 
there are restless spirits afloat. Indeed from 
Pittsburgh comes a score already by Dr. Hertig 
in both York and American rounds, the former 
being 124-598 and the latter 180-1,146 for the 
double round. 
New York has its new additions also, and it is 
unfortunate that the distance that is supposed to 
lend enchantment to the view will keep many 
shooters in that state from getting together and 
forming a club. Taking all things together, this 
coming year should be so successful as to remind 
the old veterans of the sport of the days of 
long ago. 
